SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- While the "Twin Towers" got some help
from an unlikely source, Kevin Garnett was left standing alone.

Jerome Kersey scored 10 of his season-high 14 points in the
third quarter to complement huge efforts from Tim Duncan and
David Robinson as the San Antonio Spurs cooled off the Minnesota
Timberwolves, 92-80.

Duncan had 20 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks and Robinson
collected 19, 12 and four. Although the 7-footers really could
not slow down the spectacular Garnett, they received some help
from Kersey.

Making just his second start, the 16-year veteran scored as many
points in the third period as he had in any game this season.
Overall, he made 5-of-8 shots and grabbed four rebounds in 19
minutes.

"I just tried to be aggressive on both ends of the floor. The
opportunity to shoot came to me tonight and I took that
opportunity and shot some good shots," Kersey said.

"Jerome was consistent for us," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich
added. "He gave us a lot at both ends of the court."

Meanwhile, Garnett had 26 points, eight rebounds and four blocks
but received no help. Minnesota's other starters combined for
only 22 points, including a scoreless game from rookie 7-footer
Radoslav Nesterovic.

"We didn't share the ball well," said Garnett, who made 12-of-25
shots. "We only had 12 assists and our high assist guy only had
four. You can't win like that when every shot is contested."

It was another showdown between Duncan and Garnett, two of the
NBA's brightest young stars. They squared off in the first
round of last season's playoffs, when Garnett tried to engage
Duncan in a shouting match.

"That's how it might seem, that there is some kind of real
rivalry there," Garnett said. "Everybody probably looks at last
year's playoff series as the kickoff to that rivalry. But in
reality it's really nothing more than the fact that I really
enjoy facing the best and squaring up against him. You always
like to compete against the best and we have a lot of respect
for each other's game."

"They are a very competitive team and he is a very competitive
player," Duncan said. "It's fun to play against him. He's a
terrific player."

The Spurs avenged a 91-88 road loss to Minnesota on January 4
and ended the Timberwolves' five-game winning streak. Minnesota
had won 16 of its previous 19 games.

Kersey, 37, is the fourth Spur to try and fill the void created
by the absence of small forward Sean Elliott, who underwent
kidney transplant surgery during the offseason and could be
cleared to practice soon. He follows Chucky Brown, Mario Elie
and Jaren Jackson.

"I need to be ready regardless of whether I start or not,"
Kersey said. "We seem to be searching for some kind of starting
lineup. When I start, I try to help set the tone."

"Jerome played great tonight," Duncan said. "He made great
decisions. He drove the ball and got some fouls. He made some
great plays defensively."

Kersey also carried the offense for a stretch. The Wolves were
within 57-55 on a jumper by Sam Mitchell with 7:33 left in the
third quarter, when Kersey scored six points in a 10-2 burst.

He had a pair of jumpers around a dunk by Duncan to push the
lead to eight points. Garnett hit a jumper, but so did Jackson
before Kersey went in for a fast-break dunk and a 67-57 lead
with 3:50 left in the period.

"It felt good. My legs are feeling good," said Kersey, who
early in his career was one of the league's best dunkers. "They
are in good shape. It was just an opportunity to try and get
the crowd riled up a bit."

The Spurs led 75-63 after three quarters and the Wolves got no
closer than 10 points in the final period, when Garnett was held
to four points.

"Tim did a good job on Garnett," Popovich said. "You're not
going to hold him scoreless."

Avery Johnson had 18 points and eight assists for the Spurs, who
shot 43 percent (36-of-84) and held a 49-40 rebounding edge. San
Antonio allowed only 35 points in the second half.

"Tonight they just had too many answers," Minnesota coach Flip
Saunders said. "We needed to establish our game early,
especially rebounding-wise, and instead they beat us up inside
and established their game down low."

Duncan scored 10 points and Robinson eight in a spirited first
quarter as San Antonio bolted to a 35-26 lead. Minnesota fought
back to a 45-45 tie on a dunk by Garnett with 1:59 remaining in
the second quarter, but Jaren Jackson made a 3-pointer and
Robinson added a free throw for a 49-45 halftime lead.